Today, we are announcing some exciting news that we know you’ve all been waiting for. The 5th generation YubiKey has arrived!
Our new YubiKey 5 Series is comprised of four multi-protocol security keys, including two much anticipated new features: FIDO2 / WebAuthn and NFC (near field communication).
The YubiKey 5 Series is the industry’s first set of multi-protocol security keys to support FIDO2 / WebAuthn, the open authentication standard that Yubico helped to pioneer, along with Microsoft and others. All leading platforms and browsers have either made support or are engaged in this standards work, expanding authentication choices using authentication devices, such as a YubiKey, with or without a username and password. Each key in the YubiKey 5 series supports: FIDO2 / WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, PIV (smart card), OpenPGP, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP, OATH-HOTP, and challenge-response.
With the new YubiKey 5 series, Yubico provides a solution that not only works for today’s authentication scenarios, but into tomorrow’s, helping to bridge the gap from existing solutions to a future of passwordless login. Users will receive the same trusted security, ease of use, and durability expected from a YubiKey, but will now have the added option of passwordless logins using FIDO2:
Single-Factor Authentication (Passwordless) with the YubiKey 5 Series – The YubiKey 5 security keys can be used alone for strong single-factor authentication, requiring no username or password to login — just tap or touch to authenticate.
Second-Factor Authentication with the YubiKey 5 Series – Used alongside a username and password, the YubiKey 5 series offers a strong second factor of authentication. This is the YubiKey integration that exists today with services like Google, Twitter, and Facebook, and it is most familiar to our users.
Multi-Factor Authentication (Passwordless + PIN + Touch) with the YubiKey 5 Series – The YubiKey 5 series can be used in conjunction with a PIN for user verification. In this case, the PIN unlocks the device locally and touch is still required for the YubiKey to perform the authentication.
With this expanded choice of authentication modes, developers choosing to add support for the YubiKey will have the option to choose the authentication model that best suits their use cases and customers. Implementation resources for all of the YubiKey-supported protocols can be found on the Yubico Developer website or through the Yubico Developer Program mailing list.
Another much anticipated feature added with the YubiKey 5 series, is the addition of NFC to the YubiKey 5 NFC device, allowing for a seamless and secure tap-and-go experience with mobile devices or external NFC readers.
Combining the security and usability features of FIDO2 passwordless authentication and tap-and-go NFC provides an optimal user experience, and drastically improves security and productivity. This is especially beneficial in fast-paced, dispersed working environments within sectors such as financial services, healthcare, and retail point-of-sale (POS). FIDO2 is the first open standard authentication protocol that can take tap-and-go authentication to the masses.
The YubiKey 5 Series includes: YubiKey 5 NFC, YubiKey 5 Nano, YubiKey 5C, and YubiKey 5C Nano. To determine the key that is best for you, please reference the online comparison chart, or take our YubiKey quiz!
Beginning today, YubiKey 5 Series security keys are available for purchase exclusively at Yubico.com. Shop our store, and be one of the first to own a YubiKey 5!
